John 17

The Prayer of Jesus

(Takes place prior His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane)

I. Jesus Prays for Himself (1-5)

II. Jesus Prays for His Disciples (6-19)

III. Jesus Prays for All Believers (20-24)

I. Jesus Prays for Himself (1-5)

Many Bible students consider this to be the “Lord’s Prayer” or Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer,” and I would agree with them.

Whereas the “Our Father,” (in Luke 11:2-4) would be more of a model prayer.

Up to this point Jesus had been teaching and talking to His disciples...but now He looks up and talks to the Father, notice:

1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

A couple of things right off the bat, you may have noticed Jesus prayed in a different way than we might normally pray.

1. Jesus prayed with His eyes open.

2. Jesus began by praying for Himself.

(Elaborate/Explain)

(A matter of concentration)

(As Jesus prayed for Himself, it was only because He was interested in the glory of God – 1b)

The “Hour” (time) had come – it was the hour of redemption for the glory of God.

“In John’s day, glory applied not only to something’s appearance but also to the accomplishment of its purpose. In this passage, Christ’s glorification refers to His accomplishment of the task of bringing God’s plan of salvation to the world through His impending death on the cross.” – Bickel and Jantz

Glory (Grant Me Victory) (Grant Me Authority) (v.2)

According to our Lord’s own words, eternal life is not simply a quantity or quality of life, but is a personal relationship with God. (v. 3)

The word “know” (v. 3) (1097 ginsoko) refers to a knowledge by experience; a subjective knowledge; the knowing comes from an active relation between the person or thing known. This Greek word is used 49 times in the gospel of John (1:10; 8:55; 10:14; 14:7).

(We might know of or about someone such as Abraham Lincoln the 16th President of the United States of America, Michael Jackson born in 1958 passed in 2009, dubbed the “King of Pop,” he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century, selling and estimated 400 million records worldwide. (Any of you heard of Him, know about Him? Do any of you know Him? There’s a difference.

In 2022 they say the most famous people in the world are Dwayne Johnson, and Elon Musk, maybe you know of them, but you don’t know them.

Jesus brings this up because He knows there are many who know about God and Spiritual things intellectually, but they don’t know God personally, and such people do NOT have eternal life.

Here we see this knowledge is of the Father and the Son. In John 14:17 this knowledge is also of the Holy Spirit.

These are words of blessing (to know God personally) as well as words of warning.

You might remember His words in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 7:22–23 (NKJV) “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

Up to the point Jesus had done all that His Father asked of Him on earth, but Jesus uses the word “finish” (v. 4).

Interesting, does that mean the cross was more of a work done in heaven? (Hebrews 6:20; 9:12, 24)

(v. 5) Restoring the glory they had before the world began (John 1:1)

II. Jesus Prays for His Disciples (6-19)

6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

Jesus didn’t just preach God’s name and nature, He manifested the Father to His Apostles. The same Greek word is used in:

1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh...”

Jesus manifested God to the guys, the guys God had given Him.

John 6:44 (NKJV) “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

They had kept (received and believed) Christ’s Word, which was really the Father’s Word. They knew (were sure, completely convinced) that Jesus had been sent from God the Father.

Jesus was talking to the Father, but was also aware that His words were being recorded by the Holy Spirit for us to hear.

Jesus goes on to specifically pray for them.

It should be very comforting to know that Jesus prays for His disciples.

He prayed all night for them (Luke 6:12-16)

He prayed for Peter (Luke 22:32)

He continues to pray (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25)

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

It’s interesting to note that Jesus did not pray for the world, but He prayed for His disciples, and seemingly emphasized that fact (9).

Why? Doesn’t He love the world? Doesn’t He want the world to be saved? Isn’t that why He came?

Yes (John 3:16) but the way He would read the world is through a strong church. When the Church is healthy and Holy, the world will be reached effectively.

10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

A. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be Protected

B. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be United

C. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be Sanctified

A. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be Protected (v. 11-12, 15)

The Greek word translated “keep” (5083 tereo) means to keep, to reserve, to watch, to preserve, to hold; to attend to carefully, guard. The NIV translates “protect.”

Let me ask you a question, were they protected? Some might say “no.”

Weren’t they martyrs, persecuted, prosecuted, and executed? Yes, 10 of the 12 died a martyr’s death, John the Beloved being the exception, he was baptized in boiling oil and then banished to the Island of Patmos.

So, were they protected?

Yes, they were protected in the sense that they were kept alive until their hour had come, when it was time for them to die (I call it the invincible principal). Believe you me, if God hadn’t protected them, they would have died instantly after Jesus ascended if not sooner.

So...that’s one thing to consider regarding this request – but Jesus’ prayer of protection from the world is much more than mere physical protection, it was spiritual protection. (vs. 15-16)

Jesus prayed for the Disciples to be kept from the world “system”, as well as Satan, the evil one.

1 John 5:19 (NKJV) “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”

The disciples were to be in the world, but not of the world (15a, 16a).

Not OF this world, but – not isolation, on the contrary it’s to be infiltration, and thereby preservation, and illumination.

Matthew 5:13–16 (NKJV) “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

A different type of protection:

1. Do not be Conformed to this World (Romans 12:2)


2. Do not be Spotted by the World (James 1:27)


3. Do not Love the World (1 John 2:15)


4. Lest we be Judged with the World (1 Corinthians 11:32)

There is debate among Bible students as to the falling away of Judas (v. 12). Some say Judas was never a believer. Others question why Jesus would purposely choose a non- believer (outside of the OT covenant) to be 1 of the 12. According to Jesus’ words, Judas was the only exception to the fact that Jesus had lost none.

Jesus calls him the “Son of Perdition” a title that’s used only one other time in the Bible (2 Thessalonians 2:3 – in reference to the antichrist) (not good company).

A. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be Protected

B. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be United

Jesus prayed for unity of heart and purpose. He knew the devastation of division. He would later pray the same for all future believers (20-22).

And this is interesting because in one sense, this is a prayer of Jesus’ that we can answer for Him.

Ephesians 4:3 (NKJV) “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The word endeavoring speaks of doing diligence, making haste...exerting one’s self.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV) “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

1 Corinthians 3:3 (NKJV) “for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

Pastor Chuck, “How the divisions in the church, squabbles, the fighting’s, how they must hurt the heart of the Father and of the Son whose prayer is that we might be one. It doesn’t mean that we have to agree on every point. Surely there is room for different interpretations of scripture. And surely there is a place for each of the denominations. And the gathering together with likeminded people.”

At the same time, there IS a time to divide. If a Christian or church is either in name only. If someone claims to be a believer but preaches another gospel, we MUST NOT put up with it, for this undermines our very purpose, which is that people would be saved.

The wheat are not the same as the tares; the wolves are much different than the sheep with completely different agendas.

In the essentials – Unity

In the non-essentials – Liberty

In everything - Charity

A. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be Protected

B. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be United

C. Jesus prayed for the Apostles to be Sanctified.

The Greek word translated “sanctify” (37 hagiazo) means not only to be separated from profane things, but it also means to be dedicated to God; to consecrate, to dedicate to be useful in the Master’s hands.

And what we find is that the Spirit of God, will use the Word of God, to sanctify the people of God. The Bible will be the difference!

Psalm 119:9 (NKJV) “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”

Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Ephesians 5:25–26 (NKJV) “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.”

Once again we see the Lord’s desire for us to have joy for the journey (v. 13) (Found 7 times in this section - John 15:11, 11; 16:20, 21, 22, 24; 17:13).

This would be a byproduct of listening to the words flowing from the lips of the Lord.

I. Jesus Prays for Himself (1-5)

II. Jesus Prays for His Disciples (6-19)

III. Jesus Prays for All Believers (20-24)

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

A. Jesus prays for future believers (us) to be one in God. (For them to be “together” on earth)

This unity is a witness to the world of Jesus (God’s love) (21b; 23b; 26a; 13:35)

This unity makes us “perfect” (mature) (23).


In order to be a fully functioning healthy body, all parts are necessary.
This is true congregationally and for the church universally/globally.

(So the world would know Jesus was sent by God) (perfect in one)

(So they would know they are loved by god)

B. Jesus prays for future believers (us) to be with God one day. (For them to be together in heaven)

Ultimately this is the Divine desire, the heart of Heaven, the goal of God – that men might tabernacle with God (John 14:3; 17:24).

Revelation 21:3 (NKJV) “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’”

Ephesians 1:10 (NKJV) “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.”

25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Righteous Father, Dad, the world doesn’t know You, but I do, and these that I’m praying for, they know You sent Me, because they know Me, and I’ve told them all about You Father, and I will continue to do so.

What for?

What’s the purpose?

Love.

That that same love that We have...they would have.

Wow! (57 times in the Gospel of John – love)

Jesus would go on to prove it, and in His love the Father sent the Son to us, in His love the Son laid down His life for us, and in His love the Holy Spirit lives in us.